Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will provide an update on the proposal that EU funding for Leader Groups (details supplied) will now be channelled through Kerry County Council as distinct from the South Kerry Partnership Limited. [14360/13]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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The value of Leader funding and the detailed regulations for its implementation are yet to be agreed for the next programming round. My Department is now engaged with various stakeholders in considering the arrangements to pursue greater alignment between local government and local development in line with the decisions on reform set out in the Action Programme for Effective Local Government Putting People First.

The funding levels, the detailed regulations and the alignment implementation arrangements will all be important factors in identifying the optimum programme arrangements for any rural development funding to be implemented via LEADER in the next EU programming round. New arrangements will consider the role s of central and local government, and the continued role of local development companies in programme implementation.

Overall, it is my objective that all local development funding, including LEADER, will be delivered in a way that maximises impact for communities and value for money.